Chapter 672: Unexpected Battle Result
Zhang Ruochen held the Gushui Sword in his hand as he stepped onto the battle platform, standing opposite Xie Yunfan, the two separated by ten zhang.
"Longevity Courtyard, Lin Yue."
Seeing that contestant number seventy-eight was actually Lin Yue, the corners of Xie Yunfan's mouth lifted slightly, and an indescribable joy welled up in his heart.
He had long wanted to teach Lin Yue a lesson, but Lin Yue had been hiding in the Zixia Spirit Mountain, leaving him without a suitable opportunity.
Unexpectedly, in this three hundred sixty-eight person sword dao competition, he had actually run into Lin Yue.
What else could one say but that enemies always cross paths?
Today, Xie Yunfan was going to humiliate Lin Yue in front of the entire crowd, making it so that he could never hold his head high again in the Liangyi Sect.
When that time came, let's see how he could still face Junior Sister Qi.
Recalling the image of Junior Sister Qi being held in Lin Yue's arms, Xie Yunfan's mood could not calm down. He wished he could grind Lin Yue's bones to dust and scatter his ashes.
"What's this? Hesitating to step onto the battle platform? Could it be that you're afraid?"
Xie Yunfan ultimately controlled his emotions, letting out a long breath. He pinched the short sword between two fingers, gently playing with it, appearing relaxed and natural, as if he had Zhang Ruochen completely figured out.
Zhang Ruochen held one hand behind his back and the Gushui Sword in the other. He was truly somewhat annoyed with Xie Yunfan.
Just because of a woman, every time Xie Yunfan saw him, it was like meeting a mortal enemy who had killed his father and taken his wife. It was either cold sarcasm or looking down on him like a dog, always feeling that Zhang Ruochen was far inferior to him.
Once or twice, Zhang Ruochen could endure it and didn't want to argue with him.
But he acted so arrogantly every single time. Zhang Ruochen really couldn't stand it anymore.
Below the battle platform, a wave of mocking laughter rang out. Clearly, those inner disciples and contestants shared the same opinion as Xie Yunfan, all thinking that Lin Yue was a coward.
"Senior Brother Xie, kick that coward off the platform. How could Senior Sister Qi be with someone like him?"
A Longevity Courtyard inner disciple stood in the crowd, speaking coldly with a contemptuous look: "If you're scared, just admit defeat quickly. Don't bring shame to our Longevity Courtyard."
Xie Yunfan's mood became even more cheerful, and a smug smile finally appeared on his face. "Lin Yue, running into me is actually quite good luck for you. At most, I'll just... step on your face a couple of times. If you ran into those other bad-tempered fellows, you might not even keep your life."
"Are you done or not? Are we fighting or not?"
Zhang Ruochen was getting impatient. No matter how good his patience was, Xie Yunfan had worn it thin.
Seeing that Lin Yue dared to act so arrogantly in front of him, Xie Yunfan's good mood instantly vanished. He snorted coldly, "Since you're looking for death, I'll grant your wish."
In Xie Yunfan's hand, the foot-long short sword spun rapidly as he prepared to thrust it at Zhang Ruochen.
But before the sword could even be thrust out, Xie Yunfan felt a powerful gust of wind surging toward him, blowing him so hard that he could barely keep his footing.
Not good...
Sensing the danger, Xie Yunfan's expression changed drastically. He immediately propped up a thick layer of protective saintly energy.
Xie Yunfan was at the eighth transformation of the Fish-Dragon Realm and had already opened all five saintly meridians.
Therefore, the saintly qi within his body was extremely abundant, and the protective saintly energy he condensed was like a spherical iron wall, indestructible.
Zhang Ruochen appeared in front of Xie Yunfan and struck out a palm, hitting the protective saintly energy. Ripples spread out in circles, and Xie Yunfan was sent flying.
With a loud "boom," Xie Yunfan flew backward ten zhang.
Then, his feet landed on the ground, but his body was out of control, rapidly retreating backward until he reached the edge of the battle platform before he barely managed to steady himself.
Xie Yunfan gasped for air, nearly scared out of his wits. He had never imagined that Lin Yue's cultivation could be so terrifying. If he hadn't reacted quickly enough, he would have already fallen off the platform and lost the match.
Just as he regained his senses and before he could prepare to fight back, a sword shadow in his pupils grew larger as it approached from afar.
"Shua!"
The next moment, a sword was already pressed against Xie Yunfan's neck. The cold air emanating from the blade numbed his throat.
Zhang Ruochen stood straight, looking calm and composed, still with one hand behind his back and the other holding the sword, still in its sheath, pointed at Xie Yunfan's neck. He said expressionlessly, "Do you admit defeat?"
Before many people could even react, Xie Yunfan had already been defeated.
Seeing the result on the battle platform, the entire venue fell silent. Everyone's eyes were wide open, and they all drew in a cold breath.
"How could he be this strong?"
Originally, Xu Changsheng had been sitting steadily in his chair, ready to watch Xie Yunfan teach Lin Yue a lesson.
But at this moment, his hands were clenched tightly together, and he abruptly stood up, staring incredulously at Lin Yue on the platform.
A mere newly promoted saintly disciple had defeated Xie Yunfan?
If someone said Xie Yunfan had gone easy, that was absolutely impossible. Xie Yunfan treated Lin Yue like a mortal enemy.
The five half-saints sitting above also witnessed the astonishing scene on the Jia character battle platform.
Even with their state of mind, they were quite shaken, exchanging glances with each other.
Among them, Zixia Half-Saint's emotional fluctuations were the most intense. The look in her eyes as she gazed at Lin Yue was both shocked and bitter, but mostly filled with heartfelt joy.
"So his strength is actually this great."
Zixia Half-Saint didn't know what to say anymore. She had thought that Lin Yue had encountered some fortuitous opportunity and become overly inflated, which was why he had signed up for the Fish-Dragon eighth transformation level sword dao competition.
But she never expected that he truly had the strength to contend with eighth transformation Fish-Dragon cultivators. His stubbornness came entirely from his inner confidence.
"This little fellow... truly unexpected."
Zixia Half-Saint let out a soft laugh, a hint of pride appearing on her face.
Beside her, a half-saint with a red mole on his forehead laughed heartily: "The younger generation is formidable, truly formidable. Zixia Half-Saint, I never thought you would misjudge someone. Such an outstanding disciple, if your Longevity Courtyard doesn't want him, I would very much like to take him into my Mo Kong Courtyard."
Zixia Half-Saint cast a cold glance at that half-saint and said, "Try moving a single finger, and see if I don't turn the Mo Kong Courtyard upside down."
Jinglan Half-Saint also showed a pleased expression and nodded, saying, "This child's temperament is quite extraordinary—neither arrogant nor impatient, steady yet possessing the sharpness unique to youth. Add to that his young age when he reached the summit of the Second Mountain. If he can persevere, in time he might become a generation's sword saint, renowned throughout the world."
For the Liangyi Sect to produce such an outstanding talent, all the half-saints were naturally quite gratified. It could be predicted that Lin Yue would surely shine brilliantly at the Sword Dao Assembly, becoming one of the hottest figures among the saintly disciples.
On the battle platform.
Xie Yunfan didn't dare to breathe too loudly. He was extremely unwilling and gritted his teeth, saying, "I don't accept this. I wasn't ready, and you attacked by surprise. What kind of skill is that in winning? If you have the guts, put away your sword, and we'll fight again."
Zhang Ruochen shook his head and withdrew his sword.
A look of joy flashed across Xie Yunfan's face, and a murderous intent gleamed in his eyes. He thrust his sword out like lightning, striking toward Zhang Ruochen's heart.
But before Xie Yunfan could even touch Zhang Ruochen's body, Zhang Ruochen kicked him in the face, leaving a bloody shoe print. With a "bang," Xie Yunfan fell off the battle platform, landing in the crowd, knocked unconscious.
In truth, Xie Yunfan had already passed out the moment Zhang Ruochen kicked him in the face. It wasn't that he couldn't take a fall.
If it had been someone else, Zhang Ruochen might have given them a chance.
But as for Xie Yunfan... Zhang Ruochen really didn't want to see him anymore.
Zhang Ruochen walked off the battle platform with his hands behind his back, returned to his seat, and sat down.
Immediately, the inner disciples around the Jia character battle platform erupted in excitement, shouting "Lin Yue's" name, the sound shaking most of Zhiyu Ling Mountain.
Those Longevity Courtyard disciples who had previously looked down on Lin Yue now straightened their backs. Being able to be Lin Yue's junior brothers or nephews filled them with great honor.
"Senior Brother Lin Yue's talent is unmatched, his cultivation unparalleled. We can only look up to him."
"No wonder Senior Sister Qi is smitten with Senior Brother Lin Yue. Not only is he extraordinarily handsome, but his own cultivation is also this powerful. Any woman would definitely fall for a man like this," a young female disciple said with a rather lovesick expression.
Besides Can Dong, another extraordinary talent had risen from Longevity Courtyard.
Next up were contestants number seventy-nine and eighty.
Zhang Ruochen began to carefully observe their battle.
Because Zhang Ruochen's next opponent would be the victor between these two.
"Taiqing Palace, Zhao Wuyan."
A young man standing on the left spoke in a deep, cold voice.
Opposite him was an elderly woman of considerable age, with a full head of silver hair but appearing vigorous and spirited. She said, "Mo Kong Courtyard, Fan Jing."
Elder Fan Jing was a blue-robed elder of the Mo Kong Courtyard, over a hundred years old. Her strength was naturally quite formidable, and the first move she executed was a ghost-grade mid-rank sword technique, the Snow Mountain Sword Technique.
"Snow Mountain Afterimage."
A ghost-grade mid-rank sword technique naturally possessed immense power.
As soon as Elder Fan Jing's sword move was unleashed, hundreds of sword qi appeared across the entire battle platform.
In the sky, snowflakes drifted down one after another.
On the ground, a thick layer of ice formed.
"Shua!"
As she thrust her sword forward, the hundreds of sword qi converged together, condensing into the form of a mountain, radiating a powerful aura that made one's heart tremble.
Even the inner disciples below the battle platform could feel the biting cold air rushing toward them, as if a real snow mountain was pressing down on them.
"Elder Fan Jing's sword dao realm is truly extraordinary. She should have already cultivated Sword One to the second level, combined with the power of a ghost-grade mid-rank sword technique. Among eighth transformation Fish-Dragon cultivators, not many can block a single strike from her," a saintly disciple remarked.
While everyone was marveling at Elder Fan Jing's sword technique, Zhang Ruochen alone fixed his gaze on Zhao Wuyan.
Faced with such a powerful strike from Elder Fan Jing, Zhao Wuyan remained remarkably calm.